Desperado Information

Desperado is a 1995 American action thriller film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. A sequel to the 1992 film El Mariachi, it is the second installment in Rodriguez's "Mexico Trilogy". The film stars Antonio Banderas as the former mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover.

Desperado was screened out of competition at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the final part of the trilogy, was released in 2003.

Plot

An unnamed American man (Steve Buscemi) at a bar in Mexico tells the story of how he witnessed a massacre in another bar committed by a man (Antonio Banderas) with a guitar case full of guns. The bar's patrons perk up when the man mentions that the mariachi was looking for a man named "Bucho." Later, the American man visits the Mariachi telling him that the bar is a good starting place to look for Bucho. Meanwhile, the bartender alerts Bucho that a "man in black" is looking for him and Bucho increases his security.

El Mariachi arrives in town, and befriends a young boy. Entering the bar he is recognized by the patrons, employees of Bucho, and engages in a gunfight with them, killing all but one. As he exits, he is tailed by the sole survivor, who manages to wound him before being killed. During the meeting with the survivor, he saves beautiful bookstore owner, Carolina, and passes out.

When he wakes up, his wounds are being tended by Carolina (Salma Hayek) the owner of the bookstore. He also finds out that Bucho holds control over Carolina and the entire town, paying them to hide his illegal activities. Later, he meets with his American friend at a nearby church; but, as they exit, they are attacked by the assassin Navajas (Danny Trejo), who kills the American and wounds El Mariachi with a set of throwing knives. As El Mariachi runs in a back alley for cover, Navajas is interrupted by the presence of Bucho's limo and is killed by Bucho's bodyguards before they realize that he had been sent by Bucho's superiors to kill El Mariachi. That night he returns to Carolina and the two of them succumb to their desires and make love.

The next day, El Mariachi and Carolina are ambushed by Bucho's men, who were sent to kill them. When Bucho's men set the bookstore on fire, the couple escape through the rooftop. After finding cover, El Mariachi grabs one of his guns and aims at Bucho from outside his limousine, but suddenly hesitates and puts his gun away upon seeing his face. Carolina asks him why he didn't shoot, but he does not reply. Later, at a hotel, El Mariachi tells Carolina she can leave the village and use the money she stashed to start a new life, but she tells him that the money was hidden in the books that were burned. He then decides to call his friends Campa (Carlos Gallardo) and Quino (Albert Michel, Jr.), who meet up with him and go to a deserted part of town for a showdown with Bucho's men. The three mariachis manage to wipe out the thugs, though Campa and Quino are killed in the battle. However, El Mariachi discovers that the little boy from earlier on has been shot. He and Carolina rush the boy to the hospital before heading for Bucho's ranch. Upon their arrival, it is revealed that El Mariachi and Bucho are brothers; Bucho's real name is César and he addresses El Mariachi as Manito (likely a contraction of hermanito, which means "little brother"). Bucho, however, is angered by Carolina's betrayal and threatens to kill her to even the score with El Mariachi killing his men. El Mariachi, unable to bear another love's death, ejects his pistols from his sleeves and shoots Bucho dead.

Back at the hospital, the couple discover that the boy will recover from his wounds. El Mariachi thanks Carolina and leaves. As he is walking in the desert, Carolina drives by and asks him to join her. He throws away his guitar case before he and Carolina drive off; but then they stop and go back to pick it up ("just in case"), before driving away into the sunset.

Cast

• Antonio Banderas - El Mariachi (Manito, a contraction of hermanito)
• Salma Hayek - Carolina
• Joaquim de Almeida - Bucho (Cesar)
• Cheech Marin - Short Bartender
• Steve Buscemi - Buscemi
• Carlos Gómez - Right Hand (as Carlos Gomez)
• Quentin Tarantino - Pick Up Guy
• Tito Larriva - Tavo
• Angel Aviles - Zamira
• Danny Trejo - Navajas
• Abraham Verduzco - Niño
• Carlos Gallardo - Campa
• Albert Michel Jr. - Quino
• David Alvarado - Buddy
• Angela Lanza - Tourist Girl
• Peter Marquardt as Moco (flashback)

Production

This film is a sequel to the independent movie El Mariachi. Desperado helped to enhance the fame of Antonio Banderas and introduced Salma Hayek to American audiences.

Rodriguez's friend Quentin Tarantino has a cameo as "Pick-up Guy." Carlos Gallardo, who played the title role of El Mariachi, appears in Desperado as Campa, a friend to Banderas' Mariachi. Since Banderas replaced Gallardo as the actor for the main character of the series, the filmmakers re-shot the final showdown from El Mariachi as a flashback sequence for Bandera's character in Desperado.

Raúl Juliá was originally cast as Bucho but died before production began on October 24, 1994.

El Mariachi's codpiece gun was used again in Rodriguez's 1996 film From Dusk till Dawn.

Music

The film's score is written and performed by the Los Angeles rock band, Los Lobos, performing Chicano rock and traditional Ranchera music. Their performance of "Mariachi Suite" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. Other artists on the soundtrack album include Dire Straits, Link Wray, Latin Playboys and Carlos Santana. Musician Tito Larriva has a small role in the film, and his band, Tito & Tarantula, contributed to the soundtrack as well.

Reception

The film currently holds a 62% "Fresh" rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, while Empire Magazine awarded the film a four star rating.